War in Ukraine

will that be enough to overcome whatever Putin has on djt though or djt's admiration of Putin?

i can give you 20 reasons not to nominate Matt Gaetz but here we are.

I hope you are right but there aren't many adults left in the room anymore

 

Putin Faces Coup Attempt on Russia's Doorstep

Russian president Vladimir Putin is facing a potential coup in Abkhazia, a breakaway part of Georgia, whose Russia-sanctioned government has been hit by mass protests.

Protesters, who seized parliament buildings and attempted to occupy the state's TV studios, are demanding the entire government resigns, following the government's decision to consider a new investment agreement with Moscow, according to BBC news.

The demonstrators are refusing to leave parliament buildings in the capital, Sukhumi, until their demands are met, after occupying them last week. Their bid to seize the Abkhaz State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (AGTRK), on November 18, failed after shots were fired, according to the German news outlet Deutsche Welle.

Abkhazia, a breakaway republic that declared independence from Georgia in 1993, hosts Russian military bases and troops, and has been effectively under Russian control since the Georgia war in 2008, and the current leader is President Aslan Bzhania.

 

The Biden Admin's continuous worry about escalation caused every thing to show up a week late and a dollar short. From the M-142's to F-16's to the ATACMS, everything showed up too late to really make a significant operational difference that could change the calculus. It was almost if the Biden Admin sending Ukraine into a box ring with telling them not to punch their opponent but do not get knocked out either.

 

I’ll add that this Administration has ceded initiative to the enemy at every step. I can’t think of one decision that was not reactive to a Russian move instead of proactive to get ahead of the Russian decision cycle.

 

As you probably know, I have no special love for the man for lots of reasons. But, sorry, there is just no evidence that Russia “has something” on him. We can say there’s a video of him being pissed on by Russian prostitutes a thousand times, but that video won’t magically manifest on the thousand and first saying if it doesn’t actually exist.

As far as, Trump’s expressed “admiration,” I share your concern. It could be a negotiation technique, though one I wouldn’t use personally. I note that he had similar praise of that idiot Kim Jong Un before Trump realized he wasn’t dealing with a serious person and walked away from the negotiations. Could be something like that. Can’t tell yet.

With you 100% on Gaetz. I have no explanation for that one either. I leave my trust in the Senate to make an end to that.

 

to be fair, they were letting them use their left..don't think djt wants them to even have that option but hope I am worng.

after watching him sell out the kurds and the afghans (not even a seat at the table), I have little faith that common sense and sage advise will override his hate for Z and admiration/indebtedness for Putin.

 

I hear you once more. Neither one of us are particularly enthusiastic about having him on the metaphorical throne again. But, for better or worse, he is the person our people have chosen to lead us for the next four years, and that gives him much (but not complete) sway on foreign policy regarding Ukraine. I, again, am hopeful for a change of heart from things he has said to this point for the reasons I have stated. All we can do is see how things play out.

 

Thankfully some leaders with character of NATO nations are discussing ways to step up if the US shirks its responsibility. One thing being openly considered is not only using the interest from Russia's seized assets, but to be able to use the assets themselves to aid Ukraine. All for that, Russia has forfeited its rights to those assets.

 

Not even sure it would bother Trump if it did manifest.

 

Why do you assume Trump is trying to help Russia and Putin? At the end of the day, Russia stands a much larger chance of spoiling Trump's 2nd term than Ukraine. In terms of leverage, I would say Ukraine has plenty. A pledge of neutrality gives them suddenly the upper hand, in fact.

 

Yeah, I’m not sure it would, either. “Just look at my virility …”

 

Musk threatening to shut off starlink and cut their communications if they don't listen to his favorite new orange puppet?..there is a reason djt had him on the call with Z

 

occam's razor in my world

russians use kompromat as a way of doing business and have for a long time, long before it was widely known
djt has a stated fondness for women, especially young tall blond ones
djt has been to Moscow multiple times on business, as recently as 2016, right before he announced and promptly gained russian support
djt has long has russian funding sources, either directly or via guarantees through deustche bank
nobody knows yet where the cash to buy the scottish and irish golf courses came from
it isn't hard to connect the dots

 

how long before he threatens NATO?

I can already see him telling UK to pick the EU or USA in a trade war

 

undersea cable between Finland and Germany severed shortly after Russia says it is pissed about new NATO base in Rostock Germany on the Baltic Sea

Germany, Finland warn of 'hybrid warfare' after sea cable cut
Germany and Finland launched a probe Monday after an undersea cable linking the countries was severed, warning of the threat of "hybrid warfare" amid heightened tensions with Russia. The countries' foreign ministers said in a joint statement they were "deeply concerned" by the cutting of the communications link through the Baltic Sea, where tensions have increased since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

"Our European security is not only under threat from Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, but also from hybrid warfare by malicious actors." "Safeguarding our shared critical infrastructure is vital to our security," they added.

Finnish network operator Cinia said earlier that the cable between Finland and Germany, both members of the NATO military alliance, had been cut for unknown reasons. The fault was detected in the undersea cable C-Lion1, Cinia said in a statement, adding that all services provided by the cable were down.

A Cinia spokesman quoted by Finnish media added that "all the fibre connections in it are cut". "At the moment there isn't a possibility to assess the reason for the cable break but these kinds of breaks don't happen in these waters without an outside impact," the spokesperson said.

 

It is this simple we have spent enough already.

 

Enough for what?

 

Still, you need evidence. Anyone can connect whatever dots they want. For instance, in 2012 Obama gets caught on tape telling Medvedev he will have “more flexibility” in dealing with Russia if he wins re-election, a little more than a year later Russia invades Crimea and Donbas, Obama does nothing to help Ukraine. Obama smacks down General Breedlove, the Supreme Allied Commander for Europe, for urging Obama to do something and telling the Senate Armed Services Committee that the President has tied his hands. Connecting the dots: Obama must have given Russia the green light to conduct that limited invasion and promised Russia he wouldn’t interfere in any meaningful way in exchange for Russia not causing him any problems before the 2012 elections. I highlight the facts I like, hide or minimize the ones that don’t fit, and make an accusation with no real evidence to speak of. That was easy.